Method and apparatus for manufacturing pressurized lamps



Sept. 29, 1964 D, w. ALcoTT ETAL 3,150,952

METHOD AND APPARATUS FoR MANUFACTURING PREssuRIzRD LAMPS Filed Nov. l, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet l C PREssURIzE BULB a. TIP oFF |N vENToRs n.wALLAcE'ALcoTT ROBERT N. SECK ATTORNEYS SePt- 29, 1964 D. w. ALcoTT yrsrAl. 3,150,952

METHOD AND ARPARATUS FUR MANUFACTURING PRESSURIZED LAMPS Filed Nov. l. 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 1o |NvENToRs D.WALLACE ALCOTT ROBERT N.SECK

Sept' 29 1964 D. w. ALcoTT ETAL 3,150,952

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PRESSURIZED LAMPS Filed NOV. l, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sepf- 29, 1964 D. w. ALcoTT ETAL 3,150,952

METHOD AND APPARATUS'FOR MANUFACTURING PRESSURIZED LAMPS 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 vFiled NOV. 1, 1962 sesr INVENTORS D .WALL ACE ALCOTT ROBERT N. SECK BY @JW zmmfm ATTORNEYS Sept 29, 1954 D. w. ALcoTT ETAL 3,150,952

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PRESSURIZED LAMPS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. l, 1962 ON. Om,-

N. Oh

lNVENTORS D.WALLACE ALCOTT B,Y ROBERT N SECK x0 am ATTORNEYS AGLI@ Q Fill.

Sept. 29, 1964 D. w. ALcoTT ETAL 3,150,952

METHOD AND APPARATUS FUR MANUFACTURING PREssURTzED LAMPS Filed Nov. l. 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 x 234\ 224 I mab/,226 In@ I: l'

230 220 2|6 264 ZIB 222 \NVENTORS D WALL ACE ALCOTT ROBERT N SECK Sept- 29, 1964 D. w. ALcoTT ETAL 3,150,952

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PRESSURIZED LAMPS 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Nov. l, 1962 22o zleT 914.#2

\NvENToRs D.WALLACE ALCOTT ROBERT N SECK BY Mn/m/ ATTORNEYS Sept- 29, 1964 D. w. ALcoTT ETAL 3,150,952

METHOD AND APPARATUS F OR MANUFACTURING PRESSURIZED LAMPS Filed Nov. l, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG.|7

INVENTORS D.WALLACE ALCOTT ROBERT N.SECK

ATTORNEYS United States Patent O METHB AND APPARATUS EUR MANUFAC- TURIN@ PRESSURHZED LAMPS David W. Alcott, 326 Rollins' Rock Road, Mountainside,

NJ., and Robert N. Seck, RD. 2, Box 180, Farmingdale, Nall.

Filed Nov. l, 1962, Ser. No. 234,890

2l Claims. (Si. 65-105) The present invention relates to a novel apparatus and method of forming vitreous envelopes and, more particularly, to an improved means and process for sealing pressurized incandescent or photoflash lamps.

In the production of pressurized incandescent lamps, especially of the miniature photoflash lamps, serious problems have been encountered heretofore in sealing or tipping-off the end of the pressurized tubular envelope to form a hermetically-sealed lamp unit. To produce a pressurized envelope, it is necessary to seal or tip-oil the open end of a tube while still maintaining the internal pressure in the envelope. This is usually done by heating the wall of the tubular envelope until it softens and collapses, whereupon the lamp becomes sealed at that point. However, because of the internal pressures in the envelope, the tubular envelope, when softened, tends to expand, not collapse.

To overcome this tendency of the pressurized envelope to expand when heated, the method and means most generally employed heretofore involves performing the tipping-oft operation in a chamber pressurized to at least the same extent as the envelope.

Lamps of the pressurized type are generally formed on a horizontal intermittently-rotating turret with the various manufacturing operations performed automatically at a series of work stations. In the conventional devices heretofore available, an hermetic chamber was formed about the pressurized tube envelope at the tipping-off station. After the chamber was pressurized to a pressure equal to the pressure in the envelope, a burner inside the sealed chamber effected the tipping-off operation of the lamp by heating the envelope wall until it collapsed.

In other tipping-olf devices, a method of tipping-oil was employed which utilized a pressure within the chamber higher than the pressure in the envelope so that, upon softening of the envelope tube in the chamber, the greater pressure within the chamber caused an inward collapse of the tube at the softened section. Originally, all these operations occurred at a single work station, but because of the number of successive operations the pressurized chamber, through which the tubular envelope was travelled, was extended over a number of work stations in an attempt to increase production.

in still another attempt to solve the lamp tip-olf problem, the tubular envelope was subjected to treatment with liquid nitrogen. This lowered the temperature of the envelope to the point that the gas to be encapsulated was introduced into the chilled envelope at a pressure approximately equal to the external atmospheric pressure. The tipping-off operation was then accomplished as quickly as possible to maintain the envelope at its low temperature. As the sealed envelope reached the ambient room temperature, the chilled encapsulated gas warmed, thereby developing the desired internal pressure in the sealed lamp.

It will be evident that these prior methods suffered from a number of deficiencies. The use of a hermetically sealed chamber slowed operations. In addition, the preservation of an hermetic chamber around moving parts of the turret was extremely difficult, especially in full scale plant operations. Further, keeping the burner torches properly adiusted in a pressurized atmosphere necessitated complex moisture control equipment. The method involving liquid nitrogen entailed special nitrogen handling ICC equipment and was costly. Likewise, the many variables between successive tubular envelopes; such as, envelope volume, room temperature, barometric pressure, etc., resulted in internal lamp pressures which varied substantially from lamp to lamp. This lamp pressure variation also occurred in the hermetically-sealed chamber method when the chamber was improperly sealed.

rl`he present invention is characterized by a novel method of tipping-off the tubular envelope. In the present device, the tubular envelope undergoes the conventional manufacturing operations until the envelope approaches the pressurizing and tipping-olf stations on the forming turret. In the present invention, after evacuation, the tubular envelope is pre-pressurized to a pressure approximately equal to atmospheric pressure. At the next sucessive turret work station the tubular envelope is preheated to soften the neck station thereof. However, since the internal pressure in the envelope is approximately equal to the external pressure, the neck, though softened, remains open.

At the next work station the tubular envelope is indexed into position at the pressurizing and tipping-olf chamber. At this station, the internal tube pressure is increased to the desired final pressure level, generally to about p.s.i. However, before pressurizing, the neck portion of the tubular envelope is heated until the neck section is softened to the desired amount. The heating elements are then withdrawn and the tubular envelope is surrounded by an outer housing or sealed chamber. Pressure corresponding to the desired lamp pressure is simultaneously admitted into the lamp and the chamber. Then pressure in the housing surrounding the tubular envelope is increased to effect an inward collapse of the tube at the softened section to form an hermetically sealed pressurized lamp unit at one end of the tubular envelope.

The chamber is then Withdrawn and the tubular envelope is travelled to successive turret work stations where the portion of the tubular envelope other than the sealed lamp unit is evacuated, the lamp unit severed from the stern section tubular envelope and deposited into a delivery chute and the stem section ejected from the turret exhaust head.

rEhe underlying principle of operation of the present invention resides in recognizing and utilizing the fact that heated glass cools relatively slowly. Thus, in the present invention, lthe heat is applied to the tubular envelope at the torch chamber before the tubular envelope is surrounded by the sealing chamber. The tube remains heated to a softened state sufficiently long enough to eifect withdrawal of the heating elements and positioning and operation of the sealing chamber. Since these operations are performed at a single turret station in rapid successive steps, a substantial increase in production rate is achieved. Likewise, ythere is no sealing problem since the envelope is stationary when surrounded by the vertically-movable sealing chamber. Unlike the devices heretofore, the tube softening of the present invention occurs in the atmosphere before the sealing chamber is positioned around the tubular envelope. The heating units are readily accessible and can be adjusted without dismantling of the sealing chamber. Further, there is no necessity of travelling the tubular envelope through the chamber with the various problems inherent in such an arrangement employed heretofore.

Objects It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for the sealing olf of exhaust tubes of vessels, such as photoflash lamps.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of sealing a photofiash lamp wherein the section to be sealed is heated to softened consistency prior to pressurizing and sealing of the lamp to the desired internal pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel high-speed apparatus for producing pressurized vessels, such as photoash lamps wherein the lamps are pressured and sealed in successive operations at a single work station of a turret-type exhaust machine.

An added object of the present invention is the provision of a travelling sealing chamber adapted to move into and out of operative position around the stationary heated tube, eifecting pressurizing and sealing of said tube to form the lamp.

It is likewise an yobject of the present invention to provide an improved process for the production of pressurized phototiash lamps including a novel sequence of operations, including the steps of pre-pressurizing the tube, preheating the neck thereof, heating the neck section to sealing consistency, pressurizing the interior of the tube and its intermediate surrounding area to a rst given pressure higher than atmosphere, increasing the pressure of the intermediate surrounding area to a second given pressure to effect sealing of the tube at the heated section thereof to form the pressurized lamp unit.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrurnentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a conventional turret-type exhaust machine illustrating schematically fthe various work stations concerned with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 2, FIGURE 1, illustrating the typical consrtuction of an exhaust head.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation partly in section of the tipping-off apparatus of the present invention, with the burners illustrated in operative position.

FIGURE 4 is a front View of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 3 with the sealing chamber in operative position and the burners withdrawn.

' FIGURE 5 is a front View of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 3, illustrating the sealing chamber operative mechanism and illustrating the operation of the burner members.

FIGURE 5A is a continuation of FIGURE 5 taken on line a-a of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6 6, FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7 7, FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a detailed sectional View of an exhaust head and lamp unit shown indexed into position at the start of the tipping-ofic operation.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional View taken along line 9 9, FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken along line Iii-10, FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 11 is a development view taken along line 11 11, FIGURE 1, and illustrating schematically the sequence of operations in the tipping-off process.

FIGURE 12 is a front view of the sealing chamber and torch mechanism and their respective operating mechanisms.

FIGURE `13 is a side elevation partly in section of the lamp'unit severing and discharge mechanisms.

FIGURES 14 and 15 are views of the sequential steps in the severing operation.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view taken along line 16-16, FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 17 is a schematic diagram of a suitable pneumatic control system for the pressurizing and tippingolf of lamp units of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

General Description Turning to the drawings and specically to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is illustrated a portion of a conventional turret-type exhaust machine, designated generally 19, substantially similar in construction and operation to the device disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,113,798, issued April 12, 1938, to D. Mullan. Turret 10 is adapted to support a plurality of exhaust heads 12 and travel these exhaust heads 12 through a series of successive work stations. Turret 10 may be intermittently indexed lto travel each head 12 to the next successive work station by any suitable indexing mechanism; such as shown in U.S. Patent 2,569,852, issued October 2, 1951, to I. H. Green.

Turning to FIGURE 8, where it is shown best, a sealedin photoflash lamp 14 is secured on turret 1t) in a rubber bushing 16 carried by the exhaust head cap 1S. Head cap 18 has a hollow interior section 19 connected by a riser 2u to a sweep 22. Sweep 22 in turn is connected to its associated port 25 in a suitable master rotary exhaust valve 24 mounted in common and rotatable with turret 10. Master rotary valve 24, it will be understood, has a plurality of ports 25 corresponding to the number of sweeps 22 and heads 12.

Coacting with rotary valve 24 is a master stationary valve 26, mounted in common with the central shaft 11 of turret 1t), but not rotatable therewith. At appropriate stations, each port 25 is aligned with a port 27 in valve 26 in turn communicating with an exhausting system (not shown) or with a gas-till supply system (see FIGURE 17), depending on the operation to be performed at that station on turret 1li).

During the course of operations of turret 10, the sealedin lamp 14 is loaded, the lamp is then evacuated through the exhaust system (not shown). When head 12 is indexed into position at station A (FIGURE 1), its associated sweep 22 and port 25 in rotary exhaust valve 24 is aligned in cooperating relationship with a port 27 in master stationary valve 26. At station A, port 27, in turn, communicates with a suitable gas supply unit (not shown) tto till lamp 14 with gas (preferably oxygen) at approximately atmospheric pressure; namely, 15 2O p.s.i.

At station B, the neck section 28 of sealed-in lamp 14 is subjected to pre-heating means comprising a pair of opposed burners 30 and 32, preferablyrmounted for movement together into and out of operative position adjacent the neck section 28 of a lamp 14 indexed to station B on turret 10. It will be understood that, even though the neck section 28 is heated, since the pressure inside and outside lamp 14 is approximately equal, the neck section 23 of lamp 14 will not blow out as when the internal pressure is greater than the external, nor will it collapse inwardly as when the external pressure is greater than the internal pressure. The pressurizing of lamp 14 at station A insures that the neck section 2S thereof will remain open after pre-heating at station B.

Station C comprises the actual tipping-ofi or sealing station. Lamps 14, pre-heated at their neck sections 28, are indexed seriatum into position at station C by turret 10.

As soon as a lamp 14 is positioned at station C, movable tipping-off burners 34 and 36 are travelled into position on opposite sides of neck 28 to heat this section to a dull red tipping-ofi temperature (approximately 1500" F.). To prevent droop or elongation of lamp 14 at softened neck section 28, a tube support cup 38 is moved into into sealed position on collars 126 and 122 and provide a degree of relative resilient movement between members 104 and 118.

Support member 118 includes a body portion 123 fixed by set screws 129 to tubular shaft member 130. As shown best in FIG. 3, the inn-er periphery 132 of shaft 131B is spaced from and in concentric relationship with the outer surface 71 of tube lift rod 7i?. Shaft 135) is provided with an axial slot or opening 134 which accommodates therein a laterally-extending pin 136 carried at `one end by rod 7b. Body section 128 also includes a slot or opening 138 partially therethrough, which coacts with a portion of slot 134 to accommodate pin 136.

The Iother end of pin 136 extends through slots 134 and 138 and is positioned for travel between a pair of spaced stop clips '140 and 142 carried by stop clip holder 144 fixed to 'a stanchion 146 disposed in an opening 147 in base plate 148 of the main machine frame.

Stanchion 146, xed to plate 14S, includes a central opening 145 which accommodates concentric members 13b and 7u for movement therethrough. In addition, stanchion 146 has a portion 149 thereof which extends below plate 143. An upper clamp member u is secured to portion 149 and is provided with a leg section 152 accommodating a guide rod 153. A guide member 154 is mounted at yone end on guide rod 153. Guide member 154 is provided with a central recess 156 through which passes concentric members 13@ and 7i?.

As described hereinabove, tube rod 7l) is frictionally secured in a recess 72 in head section 73 of lifting link 74. Head section 73 also includes a larger recess 158 to accommodate the lowermost end of tubular shaft 130 therein. To retain the lowermost end of shaft 13u, head section 73 includes, at one side thereof, a longitudinal slot 169 and a pair of extensions 164 and 166 on each side of slot 16u. A lock screw 163 is threaded for travel through extensions 164 and 166, bridging its associated siot 16u. Lock screw 158 thus provides clamping engagement between head section 73 of link 74 and shaft 131i, ensuring that link 74 and shaft 13@ move together.

in operation, at the start of the tipping-off cycle of operations, when burners 34 and 36 and tube support cup 3S start their travel into operative position as described hereinabove, pin 136 is in contact with lower pin stop clip 14@ and at the uppermost section of slots 134 and 138. As link 74 is travelled upwardly by action of cam 99 and its associated linkages, shaft 130 and tube lift rod 7), both in frictional engagement with link 74, are Vmoved vertically upward through guide 154 and stanchion 146 until cup 38 is in operative support position, as shown in FIG. 3, during the operation of burners 34 and 36. This movement of lift rod 70 travels pin 136 secured thereto from its lowcrmost position against stop clip 140 to its uppermost position against stop clip 142. However, since tube 71B and shaft 130 moved together, pin 13o is stillV positioned at the uppermost section of slots 134 and 138.

During the operation of burners 34 and 35, the other tipping-0E mechanisms remain relatively stationary to provide burners 34 and 35 with unhindered access to neck 28 of lamp 14 at station C. When burners 34 and 36 have heated neck 28 to the desired temperature and have been rotated to non-operative position, cam effects a second successive upward movement of lifting link 74. This second upward movement of link 74 accomplishes the enclosing of lamp 14 by chamber 40.

As link 74 is moved upwardly for the second time, tube rod 70 and shaft 130 are likewise urged upwardly as heretofore. However, since pin 136 of rod 70 is engaged by upper stop clip 142, rod 70 remains in place. Shaft and chamber support member 118, though, do move upwardly during this second movement of link 74, slots 134 and 133 thereof accommodating pin 136 during the relative travel of tube rod 76 and shaft 131i.

Since support member 104 is mounted to and travels with support member 118, the second upward movement of member 11S in turn raises member 104 again, moving chamber 40 into operative lamp enclosing position, shown in FlG. 4. Gasket 9S engaging the underface 99 of head 12 seals the interior of chamber 4i) during the actual tipping-oit process.

it will be understood that when chamber 4u is in its uppermost operative sealing position, shown in FIG. 4, pin is preferably adjacent the lowermost section of slots 134 and 138.

At the completion of the tipping-off process, the pressure in chamber 40 is vented as described hcreinbelow and cam 90 effects the downward movement of lifting link 74. Again shaft 131) and rod 70 move together downwardly away from head 12. Thus, cup 38 disengages the tipped-off lamp 14 and gasket 9S disengages the underface 99 of head 12, unsealing the vented interior of housing 94. Shaft 13@ and rod 76 continue to move downwardly together until pin 136 now engages low stop clip 14u. This arrests further downward travel of rod 7h and its associated members. However, cam 9G continues to move link 74 downwardly. This continued movement of link 74 causes relative movement between shaft 13@ and rod 7i), travelling shaft 130 further downwardly through stanchion 146 and guide 148. It will be apparent that slots 134 and 13d accommodate pin 136 during the relative movement of shaft 13u and rod 170 until shaft 139 reaches its lowermost position with pin 135 adjacent the uppermost section of slots 134 and 138. respective associated tube support 38 and chamber 4t) await the next cyclic tipping-off operation of turret 10.

Pneumatic System Turning to FIG. 17, there is illustrated schematically a suitable pneumatic system for pressurizing and tippingoff lamps 14 at station C.

As described generally hereinabove, when head 12 is indexed to station C on turret 1t?, the port 25 of rotary valve 24 associated with the particular head 12 at station C is aligned with port 27 in master stationary valve 26.

At station C, port 27 is connected by a pneumatic supply line 171) to a source of pressurized gaseous material to be encapsulated; such as, oxygen, designated generally 172. Preferably line 170 includes a check valve 174, a pressure regulator 176 and a two-way, normally-closed, solnoid-operated control valve 178. Valve 178 in the preferred embodiment is electrically connected to an actuating switch 180. A cam 182 on the main machine drive shaft is adapted to engage operating arm 184 of switch 180, thereby actuating valve 178 at the proper time during the cyclic operation of the machine.

As described hereinabove, lamp 14 is not pressurized to the desired internal pressure until chamber 40 has been seated in sealed operative position around lamp 14. Then, at that time, the interior of lamp 14 and the interior of chamber 4t? are pressurized simultaneously to the same pressures. 1n this way, no blow-out or collapse of lamp 14 occurs.

To accomplish the pressurizing of chamber 40, nozzle 103 in housing 94 is connected by an appropriate pneumatic supply line 16 to a source 135 of pressurized gaseous material; such as, oxygen or air. Preferably line 186 includes a check valve 188, a pressure regulator 19t), set at the same setting as regulator 176, and a twoway, normally-closed, solenoid-operated control valve 192. Valve 192 is electrically connected to an operating switch 194. A cam 1% on the main machine drive shaft is adapted to engage the operating arm 198 of switch 194 simultaneously with the engagement of arm 184 by cam 132. Thus, pressurized gas is fed simultaneously and at the same pressure into lamp 14 and chamber 40.

In this position, rod 7? and shaft 131) and theiry To effect the actual tipping-off, nozzle ltlS in housing 94 is connected by an appropriate pneumatic supply 266 to a source of pressurized gaseous material, preferably the same source 135 to which line 186 is connected. A lter 202 adjacent source 235 ensures that foreign par- 'rieles are eliminated from the gaseous material before it is fed into lines ltl6 and 2%. Line 20) preferably includes a pressure regulator 2li-4l and a three-way normally-closed, solenoid-operated control valve 206. Valve 266 is electrically connected to an operating switch 26S. A cam 2l@ on the main machine drive shaft is adapted to engage the operating arm 2l2 of switch 20S, thereby actuating valve 266 at the proper time during the cyclic operation of the machine, to increase the pressure within housing 94 above the pressure inside lamp 14. This increase in external pressure causes the softened neck section 23 to collapse, hermetically sealing the pressured bulb section d2 of lamp 14.

At the completion of the tipping-olf operation, cams 22, 2% and 2l@ are rotated out of engagement with their associated switches fsil, 194 and 2%, respectively, thus deenergizing solenoid valves l, 192 and 2&6. Since valve 226 is a three-way valve, le-energizing therefor effects tie venting of the pressure within chamber 46.

Check valve t28 prevents any back pressure build-up in line S6 when valve 266 is actuated. Check valve ldis employed so that in the event of a leak in head l2, the increased pressure when valve 266 is actuated will not result in a contamination of the source of encapsulated material by a back-flow through line i743.

lt will be understood that valves 17S and 292 are not actuated by their associated cams ll2 and 2.96 until chamber lll is in seated, sealed, operative position adjacent head l2. With chamber til in operative position, cams 182 and 1% effect actuation of valves 17h and i9?, substantially simultaneously to admit pressure to lamp :t4 and chamber 4u. When suihcient time has elapsed to fully pressurize lamp ld, cam 2i@ effects actuation of valve 2196 to tip-off or hermetically seal bulb section 42 of lamp lli. After the proper interval to ensure complete sealing of lamp 14, cams l82, 196 and are simultaneously rotated out of engagement with their respective switches until the next cyclic tipping-oil operation of the machine.

Sci/@ring Torch and Operating Mechanism After the tipped-olf or hermatically sealed lamp 14 has had its stern pressure vented at station D, the lamp .le is indexed to station E where the sealed bulb section l2 is severed from stem 45.

To eiect this severing, there is provided at station E, and as shown in FIG. 13, a severing torch 214, including a pair of opposed burners 216 and 228 connected by iiexible supply lines 226 and 222 to an associated conventional gas-air mixer unit and supply (not shown). Burners 2id and 2id are each mounted on an associated standard 224';- and 226, respectively, which are mounted in spaced relationship on a cross-shaft 223. Cross-sha t 223, in turn, includes an end extension 233 secured to the upper end of a vertically-reciprocating operating arm 232. Arm 232 is positioned in guide 234 and adapted for free travel through a section 236 of base member 2.128 :tixed to the main machine frame. lt will be understood that arm 232 is mounted for reciprocating vertical travel for reasons set forth in detail hereinoelow and may be actuated by any suitable operating mechanism; such as, a mechanism similar in construction and operation to lifting linl: 74, which effects reciprocating vertical travel of tube lift rod 'ill and shaft i3@ at station C. Accordingly, further disclosure thereof is omitted in the interest of brevity.

Coacting with burners 216 and 2id at station E is a tube support and discharge unit designated generally 2463 Unit includes a tube support shaft 2 i2 whose upper end terminates in a tube support face 24d having l0 tube support prongs '246 disposed thereon. Shaft 242 is mounted for reciprocating vertical travel within a tubular sleeve 24d, shaft 242 being mounted concentrically within sleeve 243. Sleeve 248 is located in a guide 25@ mounted in common with guide 2311i on a stud shaft 256 fixed to base member 23S.

Sleeve 24S is mounted for vertical travel through a section 252 of base 238. Section 252, however, is provided with a lateral, spring-loaded friction snubber unit 254 to assist in maintaining sleeve 252 in vertical position.

To effect relative and conjoint movement of shaft 242 and sleeve 243, shaft 242 includes a lateral pin 256 mounted for travel in opposed longitudinal slots 258 formed in sleeve 248. Upper and lower stop collars 266 and 262, fixed in place on the outer periphery of sleeve 248, are operative to limit the travel of pin 256 therebetween, thereby limiting the amount of relative movement between shaft 242 and sleeve 243.

Shaft 242 is mounted for reciprocating vertical travel for reasons set `forth hereinbelow and may e actuated by any suitable operating mechanism; such as, a mechanism similar in construction and operation to lifting link ill and its associated mechanisms.

In operating, when a lamp i4 is indexed into position at station E, burners 216 and 218 are positioned at each side of the neck section 28 thereof. Simultaneously with the arrival of lamp lli, shaft 242 is travelled vertically upward by its associated operating mechanism to position the tube support face 244 and prongs 266 adjacent the bottom of lamp 14. Coacting with prongs 246 is an annular support ring 261tixed to the inner periphery of sleeve 2153 at the upper terminus thereof. Ring 264 is adapted to enclose the sides of lamp 14 during the severing operation. It will be understood that in this position, shaft 24,2, sleeve 243 and their associated elements are at their uppermost position with pin 256 in contact with the underface of upper stop collar 266.

When burners 2id and 218 have softened neck 23 to the desired severing temperature, shaft 242 is moved downwardly a short distance, travelling pin 256 downwardly a portion of its total travel in slots 25S and away from collar 26d. Since pin 256 is free to travel downwardly in slots 258, no downward force is thus exerted on sleeve 243. Therefore, the sleeve 248 remains in uppermost position during this initial relative downward movement of shaft 242. However, since lamp i4 is supported on shaft 242 and neck section 23 thereof is softened by burners 216 and 21S, bulb section 42 follows the downward movement of shaft 242, effects a stringing-out of neck 2S, severing bulb 42 from stem 45. (See FlGS. 14 and l5.)

The Stringing-out operation described above produces a sealed bulb 42 with a sharp tip 266 which is susceptible to damage and likewise is undesirable in subsequent finishing operations. To remove the sharp tip 266, arm 232, associated with burners 216 and 21S, is travelled downwardly by its associated operating mechanism, causing burners 2id and 21S to follow tip 266 on bulb 42 downwardly to the string-out position. Burners 216 and ZES, it will be understood, continue to apply heat to sharp tip 266, causing it to form into a desirable rounded ball tip 268 (see FlG. l5), suitable for subsequent handling and finishing.

When bulb Ai2 has been severed and ball 'tip 268 formed thereon, shaft 242 is again travelled downwardly, moving pin 256 in slot 258 into .position adjacent the top face of lower stop collar 262. During this second downward movement of shaft 242, completed bulb 42 is ejected through an accommodating opening 269 .in sleeve 223 into a suitable delivery chute 276 fixed to the outer periphery of sleeve 24E-8.

To eject a completed bulb 42, there is provided a cam surface 272 fixed to the inner surface of sleeve 243 and adapted for travel in an accommodating slot 274 in shaft 242, which communicates with support face 244. Cam surface 272 is located in sleeve 248 opposite opening 269. As a completed bulb (l2 is travelled downwardly on shaft 242 during the second downward movement thereof, cam surface 272 engages the completed bulb d2 and urges it laterally of sleeve 248 and through opening 259 into delivery chute 270.

During the ejection operation, burners 216 and 2id are preferably returned by arm 232 to operative severing position to await the next lamp i4; delivered to station E.

After the completed bulb 42 has been ejected, unit 240 is retracted from the path of travel of lamp 14 indexed to station E, to await the next lamp le travelled thereto on turret 10. To retract unit 240, shaft 242 is travelled downwardly a third time by its associated operating mechanism. Since pin 256 was positioned adjacent lower collar 262 at the completion of the second downward movement, the continued downward movement of shaft 242 effects conjoint downward movement of both shaft 242 and sleeve 24S, withdrawing unit 24u from the path of travel of lamp 14 in turret l0. Since burners 2id and 2id straddle the path of travel of lamp 115 on turret it), as shown in FIG. 16, these burners can be returned to operative severing position during the bulb-ejection step without adverse effect.

It will be understood that to raise unit 2d@ to operative tube-engaging position, the operating mechanism of shaft 242 need only provide for a single upward movement thereof. Therefore, to provide for the necessary severing operation, shaft 242 is travelled downwardly in three distinct steps by its operating mechanism.

In moving upward into bulb-engaging position, shaft 242 is first moved relative to sleeve 2%, travelling pin 256 thereof from adjacent lower stop collar 252 to upper stop collar 260. With pin 256 located adjacent upper collar 261i, the continued movement of shaft 242 effects conjoint movement of shaft 242 and sleeve 248 into bulbengaging position at the start of the next successive severing operation.

Thus, there is disclosed a relatively simple and unique device for producing pressurized vitreous envelopes, such as, phototiash bulbs, which practices a new and novel sequence of operations in producing these pressurized bulbs, resulting Yin increased production rates for such bulbs and other advantages far beyond any device or method employed heretofore.

While the invention has been described in detail according to the preferred manner of carrying out the method and the device embodying the invention, it will beobvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover such changes and modifications.

What we claim is:

l. The method of producing hermetically-sealed pressurized units from tubular vitreous envelopes open at one end comprising the steps of initially pressuring the interior of said envelope to a pressure substantially equal to atmospheric pressure, pre-heating the envelope at the section thereof to be sealed, heating the envelope a second time to its sealing temperature adjacent the section to be sealed, enclosing the envelope in a hermeticallysealed environment, simultaneously pressurizing the interior of said envelope and said environment to substantially the same pressure, and increasing the pressure in said environment above the pressure in said envelope whereby saidV vitreous envelope collapses adjacent its heated section to form a hermetically-sealed pressurized unit in the closed portion of said envelope.

2. The method of producing hermetically-sealed pressurized units from tubular vitreous envelopes open at one end comprising the steps of initially pressurizing the interior of said envelope to a pressure substantially equal to atmospheric pressure, heating the envelope to its sealing temperature adjacent the section to be sealed, enclosing the envelope in a hermetically-sealed environment, simultaneously pressurizing the interior of said envelope and said environment to substantially the same pressure, and increasing the pressure in said environment above the pressure in said envelope whereby said vitreous envelope collapses adjacent its heated section to form a hermetically-sealed pressurized unit in the closed portion of said envelope.

3. The method of producing hermetically-sealed pressurized units from tubular glass envelopes open at one end, said envelopes travelling intermittently through a series of successive workstations comprising the steps of initially pressurizing the interior of said envelope to a pressure substantially equal to atmospheric pressure, pre-heating the envelope at the section thereof to be sealed to a temperature below its sealing temperature, heating the envelope a second time to its sealing tei.- perature adjacent the section to be sealed, enclosing the envelope in a hermetically-sealed environment, simultaneously pressurizing the interior of said envelope and said environment to substantially the same pressure and that pressure being substantially above atmospheric, increasing the pressure in said environment above the pressure in said envelope whereby said vitreous envelope collapses adjacent its heated section to form a hermetically-sealed pressurized unit in closed portion of said envelope, Vreleasing said pressure in said environment and removing said envelope and sealed unit therefrom, releasing the pressure in the unsealed section of said envelope and severing the unsealed section of said envelope from the hermeticallv-sealed .pressurized unit.

4. The method of producing hermetically-sealed pressurized units from tubular vitreous envelopes open at one end comprising the steps of initially pressurizing the interior of said envelope to a pressure substantially equal to atmospheric pressure, pre-heating the envelope a second time to its sealing temperature adjacent the section to be sealed, simultaneously pressurizing the interior of said envelope and the environment immediately surrounding said envelope to substantially the same pressure, and increasing the pressure in said environment above the pressure in said envelope whereby said vitreous envelope collapses adjacent its heated section to form a hermetically-sealed pressurized unit in closed portion of said envelope.

5. The method of producing hermetieally-sealed pressurized units from tubular vitreous envelopes open at one end comprising the steps of initially pressurizing `the interior of said envelope to a pressure substantially equal to atmospheric pressure, pre-heating the envelope at the section thereof to be sealed, supporting said envelope at its closed end, heating the envelope a second time to its sealing temperature adjacent the section to be sealed, enclosing the envelope in a hermetically-sealed environment, simultaneously pressurizing the interior of said envelope and said environment to substantially the same pressure, and collapsing said tubular envelope at its heated section to form a hermetically-sealed pressurized unit in closed portion of said envelope. v

6. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said collapsing step includes applying lateral forces to said heated section of said envelope.

7. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said collapsing step includes moving said envelope support laterally to effect collapse of said envelope.

8. The method of producing hermetically-sealed pressurized units from tubular vitreous envelopes open at one end comprising the steps of initially pressurizing the interior of said envelope to a pressure substantially equal to atmospheric pressure, pre-heating the envelope at the section thereof to be sealed, heating the envelope a second time to its sealing temperature adjacent the section to be sealed, enclosing the envelope in a hermeticallysealed environment, simultaneously pressurizing the intei3 rior of said envelope and said environment to substantially the same pressure, increasing the pressure in said environment above the pressure in said envelope whereby said vitreous envelope collapses adjacent its heated section to form a hermetically-sealed pressurized unit in closed portion of said envelope, enclosing said collapsed section of said envelope with a mold and decreasing the pressure Within said environment below the pressure within said envelope, said envelope pressure expanding said envelope against said mold whereby the portion of said envelope enclosed by said mold assumes said mold shape.

9. Apparatus for producing lhermetically-sealed pressurized units from tubular vitreous envelopes open at one end comprising means for delivering a plurality of cnv lopes seriatim to and through a plurality of tipping-off work stations, exhaust heads, each adapted to receive an envelope, means mounting said exhaust heads on said delivery means, means for indexing said delivery means to intermittently travel each head and associated envelope into registered position at each of said tipping-ofi work stations, means at the first of said tipping-off work. stations connecting said exhaust head and envelope indexed thereto to a source of gaseous material pressurized to substantially atmospheric pressure, first burner means at the second tipping-off work station operative to heat said envelope intermediate its open and closed ends, second burner means at said third tipping-off work station operative to heat said previously heated section of said envelope to a softened sealing state, means connecting said exhaust head and said softened envelope to a source of gaseous material under pressure substantially higher than atmospheric, means for preventing expansion of said softened section during pressurizing of said envelope, and means applying a lateral external force to said softened section of said pressurized envelope to collapse the tubular sidewalls thereof to form a hermetically-sealed pressurized unit in the closed end portion of said envelope.

l0. The apparatus as dened in claim 9 wherein said last-named means includes pressure means for increasing the external pressure adjacent the softened section of said envelope above the pressure in said envelopes, said pressure means effecting inward movement of said envelope sidewalls to produce said hermetically-sealed unit.

1l. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 including vent means connecting said exhaust head and envelope to atmosphere, means connecting said vent to said head after the formation of said hermetically-sealed unit in said envelope whereby the pressure in the open end portion of said envelope is released, and means severing said open end portion of said envelope from said hermeticallysealed unit.

12. Apparatus for producing hermetically-sealed pressurized units from tubular vitreous envelopes open at one end comprising means for delivering a plurality of envelopes seriatim to and through a plurality of tipping-olf work stations, exhaust heads, each adapted to receive an envelope, means mounting said exhaust heads on said delivery means, means for indexing said delivery means to intermittently travel each head and associated envelope into registered position at each of said tipping-off work stations connecting said exhaust head and envelope indexed thereto to a source of gaseous material, pressurized to substantially atmospheric pressure, first burner means at the second tipping-off work station operative to heat said envelope intermediate its open and closed ends, second burner means at said third tipping-off work station operative to heat said previously heated section of said envelope to a softened sealing state, a chamber, means mounting said chamber for movement into operative enclosing positions around said envelope, means for moving said charnber into operative position at the end of said second heating operation, means for connecting said exhaust head and said softened envelope to a source of gaseous materialV under pressure substantially higher than atmospheric, means for pressurizing the interior of said chamber substantially simultaneously with the pressurizing of said envelope and .to substantially the same degree of pressure for preventing expansion of said softened section during pressurizing of said envelope, and means for collapsing the sidewalls at said softened section of said pressurized envelope to form a hermeticallysealed pressurized unit in the closed end portion of said envelope.

13. The apparatus as defined -in clairn 11 including vent means connecting said exhaust head and envelope to atmosphere, means connecting said vent to said head after the formation of said hermetically-sealed unit in said envelope whereby the pressure in the open end portion of said envelope is released, and means severing said open end portion of said envelope from said hermeticallysealed unit.

14. Apparatus for producing hermetically-sealed pressurized units from tubular glass envelopes open at one end comprising turret means for delivering a plurality of envelopes seriatim to and through a plurality of tipping-off Work stations, exhaust heads, each adapted to receive an envelope, means mounting said exhaust heads on said turret, means for indexing said turret to intermittently travel each head and associated envelope into registered position at each of said tippingnoi work stations, means at the first of said tipping-off work stations connecting said exhaust head and envelope indexed thereto to a source of gaseous material, pressurized .to substantially atmospheric pressure, first burner means at the second tipping-off work station operative to heat said envelope intermediate its open and closed ends, second burner means at said third tipping-off work station operative to heat said previously heated section of said envelope to a softened sealing state, means for travelling said second burner means into and out of operative envelope softening position, a means supporting said envelope during the second heating operation, a chamber at said third tipping-od work station, means mounting said chamber for movement into operating enclosing position around said envelope in timed relation with the movement of said second burner means, means for moving said chamber into operative position at the end of said second heating operation, means for moving said second burner means out of operative envelope softening position at the end of said second heating operation, means for connecting said exhaust head and said softened envelope to a source of gaseous material under pressure substantially higher ,than atmospheric, means for pressurizing the interior of said chamber substantially simultaneously with the pressurizing of said envelope and to substantially the same degree of pressure for preventing expansion of said softened section during pressurizing of said envelope and means for increasing the chamber pressure above the envelope pressure for collapsing the sidewalls of said softened section of said pressurized envelope to form a hermetically-sealed pressurized unit in the closed end portion of said envelope.

15. The apparatus .as defined in claim i4 including vent means connecting said exhaust head and envelope to atmosphere, means connecting said vent to said head after the formation of said hermetically-sealed unit in said envelope whereby the pressure in the open end portion of said envelope is released, and means severing said open end portion of said envelope from said hermeticallysealed unit.

16. The invention as deiined in claim i4 including means for severing the open end portion of said envelope from said hermetically-sealed unit at the last of said tipping-off work stations, said severing means comprising a support, means for moving said support into envelope signal position as said envelope and exhaust head are indexed to said severing station, third burner means, for softening said envelope at said collapsed sidewall section thereof to a plasticized condition, means for moving said support away from said third burner to stretch the envelope at said softened section to facilitate severing by said said third burner means of said pressurized unit at 15 the closed end position of said envelope from the open end position thereof, and means for travelling said third burner means toward said support and adjacent the stretched portions of said pressurized unit to form a rounded tip on the severed portion of said unit.

17. The invention as defined in claim 16 including discharge means associated with said support for ejecting inished units from said support to a delivery chute.

1S. In a device for producing hermeticaliy-sealed pressurized units from tubular glass envelopes, said device having a plurality of travelling exhaust heads, each to receive an envelope, apparatus for tipping-ofi an envelope containing gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric, comprising means connecting each exhaust head and envelope travelled thereto to a source of gaseous material pressurized to substantially atmospheric pressure, first burner means operative to heat said envelope intermediate its open and closed ends, second burner means operative to heat said previously heated section or" said envelope to a softened sealing state, means for supporting said envelope during the second heating operation, a chamber, means mounting said chamber for movement into operating enclosing position around said envelope at the end of said second heating operation, means for connecting said exhaust head and said softened envelope to a source ot gaseous material under pressure substantially higher than atmospheric, means for pressurizing the interior of said chamber substantially simultaneously with the pressurizing of said envelope and to substantially the same degree of pressure for preventing expansion of said softened section during pressurizing of said envelope, and means for collapsing the sidewalls of said softened section of said pressurized envelope to forni a hermeticallysealed pressurized unit in the closed end portion of said envelope.

19. In a device for producing hermetically-sealed pressurized units from tubular glass envelopes, lsaid device having a plurality of travelling exhaust heads each adapted to receive an envelope, apparatus for tipping-oil an envelope containing gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric comprising means connecting each exhaust head and envelope travelled thereto to a source of gaseous material pressurized to substantially atmospheric pressure, first burner means operative toy heat said envelope intermediate its open and closed ends, second burner means operative to heat said previously heated section of said envelope to a softened sealing state, means for travelling said second burner means into and out of operative envelope softening position, a means supporting said envelope during the second heating operation, a chamber means mounting asid chamber for movement into operating enclosing position around said envelope in timed relation with the movement of said second burner means, means for moving said chamber into operative position at the end of said second heating operation, means for moving said second burner means out of operative envelope softeru'ng position at the end of said second heating operation, means for connecting said exhaust head and said softened envelope to a source of gaseous material under pressure substantially higher than atmospheric, means for pressurizing the interior of said chamber substantially simultaneously with the pressurizing of said envelope and to substantially the same degree of pressure for preventing expansion ot said softened section during pressurizing of said envelope, and means for increasing the chamber pressure above the envelope pressure for collapsing the sidewalls of said softened section of said pressurized envelope to form a hermetically-sealed pressurized unit in the closed end portion of said envelope.

20. In apparatus for tipping-oit envelopes containing pressure higher than atmospheric by collapsing the sidewalls thereof to produce hermetically-sealed pressurized units therein, a mechanism for severing said pressurized units from the remainder of said envelopes comprising a support, means for moving said support into envelope support position, burner means for softening said envelope at said collapsed sidewall section thereof to a plasticized condition, means for moving said support away from said burners to stretch the envelope at said softened section to facilitate severing by said burner means of said pressurized unit portion of said envelope from the remainder thereof, and means for travelling said burner means toward said support and adjacent the stretched severed portions ot said pressurized unit to form a rounded tip thereon.

2l. The invention as dened in claim 20 including discharge means associated with said support for ejecting finished units from said support to a delivery station.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 

1. THE METHOD OF PRODUCING HERMETICALLY-SEALED PRESSURIZED UNITS FROM TUBULAR VITREOUS ENVELOPES OPEN AT ONE END COMPRISING THE STEPS OF INITIALLY PRESSURING THE INTERIOR OF SAID ENVELOPE TO A PRESSURE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, PRE-HEATING THE ENVELOPE AT THE SECTION THEREOF TO BE SEALED, HEATING THE ENVELOPE A SECOND TIME TO ITS SEALING TEMPERATURE ADJACENT THE SECTION TO BE SEALED, ENCLOSING THE ENVELOPE IN A HERMETICALLYSEALED ENVIRONMENT, SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESSURIZING THE INTERIOR OF SAID ENVELOPE AND SAID ENVIRONMENT TO SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PRESSURE, AND INCREASING THE PRESSURE IN SAID ENVIRONMENT ABOVE THE PRESSURE IN SAID ENVELOPE WHEREBY SAID VITREOUS ENVELOPE COLLAPSES ADJACENT ITS HEATED SECTION TO FORM A HERMETICALLY-SEALED PRESSURIZED UNIT IN THE CLOSED PORTION OF SAID ENVELOPE.
 9. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HERMETICALLY-SEALED PRESSURIZED UNITS FROM TUBULAR VITREOUS ENVELOPES OPEN AT ONE END COMPRISING MEANS FOR DELIVERING A PLURALITY OF ENVELOPES SERIATIM TO AND THROUGH A PLURALITY OF TIPPING-OF WORK STATIONS, EXHAUST HEADS, EACH ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AN ENVELOPE, MEANS MOUNTING SAID EXHAUST HEADS ON SAID DELIVERY MEANS, MEANS FOR INDEXING SAID DELIVERY MEANS TO INTERMITTENTLY TRAVEL EACH HEAD AND ASSOCIATED ENVELOPE INTO REGISTERED POSITION AT EACH OF SAID TIPPING-OFF WORK STATIONS, MEANS AT THE FIRST OF SAID TIPPING-OFF WORK STATIONS CONNECTING SAID EXHAUST HEAD AND ENVELOPE INDEXED THERETO TO A SOURCE OF GASEOUS MATERIAL PRESSURIZED TO SUBSTANTIALLY ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, FIRST BURNER MEANS AT THE SECOND TIPPING-OFF WORK STATION OPERATIVE TO HEAT SAID ENVELOPE INTERMEDIATE ITS OPEN AND CLOSED ENDS, SECOND BURNER MEANS AT SAID THIRD TIPPING-OFF WORK STATION OPERATIVE TO HEAT SAID PREVIOUSLY HEATED SECTION OF SAID ENVELOPE TO A SOFTENED SEALING STATE, MEANS CONNECTING SAID EXHAUST HEAD AND SAID SOFTENED ENVELOPE TO A SOURCE OF GASEOUS MATERIAL UNDER PRESSURE SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN ATMOSPHERIC, MEANS FOR PREVENTING EXPANSION OF SAID SOFTENED SECTION DURING PRESSURIZING OF SAID ENVELOPE, AND MEANS APPLYING A LATERAL EXTERAL FORCE TO SAID SOFTENED SECTION OF SAID PRESSURIZED ENVELOPE TO COLLAPSE THE TUBULAR SIDEWALLS THEREOF TO FORM A HERMETICALLY-SEALED PRESSURIZED UNIT IN THE CLOSED END PORTION OF SAID ENVELOPE. 